Liveaboard Visa Guide: Which Countries Need What

You've booked the trip, bought the flights, packed the dive bag. Then you're standing at immigration in Hurghada at 2am realising your passport expires in four months and Egypt wants six months' validity. Trip over before it started.

Don't be that person. Here's every visa requirement for every major liveaboard destination, verified for 2026. Requirements listed are for EU and US passport holders — other nationalities should check their specific embassy.

Important: Visa rules change. This guide is current as of April 2026. Always verify with the relevant embassy or a service like iVisa before travel.

Egypt (Red Sea)

Visa required: Yes

Cost: $25 single-entry e-visa, $60 multiple-entry

How: E-visa online (visa2egypt.gov.eg) or visa on arrival at the airport. Both work fine. The e-visa saves you 20 minutes in the queue.

Duration: 30 days

Passport validity: 6 months beyond entry date

Departure tax: None (included in flight tickets since 2015)

Tips: Apply for the e-visa at least 7 days before travel. Processing usually takes 3-5 business days. The visa-on-arrival option is cash only (USD, EUR, or GBP). Hurghada (HRG) and Marsa Alam (RMF) both have visa-on-arrival counters.

Most liveaboard itineraries depart from Hurghada, Port Ghalib, or Hamata. No additional permits are needed for offshore dive sites — your boat operator holds the marine park permits.

Maldives

Visa required: No

Cost: Free

How: 30-day tourist visa granted on arrival. No pre-application needed.

Duration: 30 days (extendable to 90 days for $750 at immigration in Male)

Passport validity: 6 months beyond entry date

Departure tax: $30 (usually included in your flight ticket — verify with your airline)

Tips: The Maldives is one of the easiest visa situations in diving. Every nationality gets 30 days free on arrival. You need a confirmed hotel or liveaboard booking and a return flight. Immigration rarely checks the booking details, but have them accessible on your phone.

Male's Velana International Airport (MLE) is the entry point. If your liveaboard departs from a different atoll, your operator will arrange domestic transfers — usually a speedboat or domestic flight to Gan (GAN), Laamu (KDO), or Dharavandhoo (DRV).

Indonesia (Raja Ampat, Komodo)

Visa required: Depends on nationality

Cost: Free (visa exemption for 92 countries including most EU) or $35 Visa on Arrival

How:

• Visa exemption (free, 30 days): Available to passport holders from 92 countries including most EU states. Non-extendable.
• Visa on Arrival ($35, 30 days): Available to 75+ countries including the US, UK, Australia. Extendable once for 30 more days. Cash (USD) or card accepted at major airports.
• E-visa: Also available through molina.imigrasi.go.id for $35.

Duration: 30 days under both options

Passport validity: 6 months beyond entry date with 2 blank pages

Departure tax: Included in flight tickets

Tips: For Raja Ampat specifically, you'll also need a Raja Ampat Marine Park Entry Permit (Kartu Jasa Lingkungan). This costs 1,000,000 IDR (approximately $65) for foreign tourists and is valid for one year. Most liveaboard operators arrange this, but confirm before boarding. You can also purchase it online through the Raja Ampat government website.

Getting to Raja Ampat means flying to Sorong (SOQ) via Jakarta (CGK) or Makassar (UPG). Domestic flights have strict luggage limits — typically 20kg checked, 7kg carry-on. Pack your dive gear strategically. Komodo itineraries typically depart from Labuan Bajo (LBJ), reachable via Bali (DPS).

Thailand (Similan Islands, Andaman Sea)

Visa required: No (for most nationalities)

Cost: Free

How: Visa exemption on arrival

Duration: 60 days for most EU and US passport holders (increased from 30 days in 2024)

Passport validity: 6 months beyond entry date

Departure tax: Included in flight tickets

Tips: Thailand is the simplest entry in Southeast Asia for divers. No forms, no fee, no fuss. You get stamped in and you're done.

Similan liveaboards depart from Khao Lak or Tab Lamu pier, about 1.5 hours north of Phuket (HKT). The Similans are a national park — your liveaboard holds the park entry permits. The season runs November to May; the park is closed June to October.

Philippines (Tubbataha, Visayas)

Visa required: No (for most nationalities)

Cost: Free

How: Visa-free entry on arrival

Duration: 30 days for most EU and US passport holders

Passport validity: 6 months beyond entry date

Departure tax: PHP 550 (approximately $10) at some airports, though increasingly included in tickets

Tips: 30 days is plenty for any liveaboard trip. If you're combining with a land-based holiday, you can extend for 29 additional days at any Bureau of Immigration office for about $40.

Tubbataha trips depart from Puerto Princesa (PPS) on Palawan. You'll likely connect through Manila (MNL) or Cebu (CEB). Domestic flights within the Philippines are cheap (Cebu Pacific, Philippines AirAsia) but luggage allowances are tight — 20kg is standard, and excess charges add up fast at PHP 350/kg.

Mexico (Socorro, Sea of Cortez)

Visa required: No (for EU and US passport holders)

Cost: Free

How: Tourist card (FMM) issued on arrival or in-flight

Duration: Up to 180 days

Passport validity: Valid for duration of stay (no 6-month rule)

Departure tax: Included in flight tickets

Tips: Mexico is straightforward. The FMM tourist card is free for stays under 180 days and is handed out on the plane or at the immigration counter. Keep the bottom half of the form — you'll need it when you leave.

Socorro trips depart from Cabo San Lucas (SJD airport). Sea of Cortez trips leave from La Paz (LAP). Both are well-connected via Mexico City (MEX) or direct flights from US cities.

The Tricky Ones

Papua New Guinea

Visa required: Yes

Cost: Free for stays up to 60 days (for many nationalities)

How: Visa on arrival at Port Moresby (POM) and a few other entry points. Some nationalities must apply in advance.

Duration: 60 days

Passport validity: 12 months beyond entry (stricter than most)

PNG is logistically challenging. Flights route through Singapore, Brisbane, or Cairns. Internal transfers are often by small charter plane. Give yourself buffer days.

Sudan

Visa required: Yes

Cost: Approximately $100-$160 depending on nationality

How: Must be obtained in advance from a Sudanese embassy. This is a genuine bureaucratic process — allow 4-6 weeks. Some liveaboard operators can arrange visa invitation letters.

Duration: 30-90 days depending on visa type

Passport validity: 6 months beyond entry date

Critical: Dual nationals and anyone with Israeli stamps or entry records may face additional scrutiny or denial. The political situation in Sudan has been volatile — verify current travel advisories before committing to a trip.

Myanmar (Burma Banks)

Visa required: Yes

Cost: $50 e-visa

How: E-visa through evisa.moip.gov.mm. Processing takes 3-5 business days.

Duration: 28 days

Passport validity: 6 months beyond entry date

Burma Banks liveaboards typically depart from Ranong (Thailand side) or Kawthaung (Myanmar side). If departing from Thailand, you'll need to clear Myanmar immigration at Kawthaung — make sure your e-visa covers this entry point.

Universal Rules

Regardless of destination, these apply everywhere:

1. Passport validity: Keep 6 months minimum. It's the global standard and the one thing that catches people out most often.
2. Blank pages: Have at least 2-3 blank pages. Some countries count them, most don't, but running out is an avoidable problem.
3. Travel insurance: Not a visa requirement, but most liveaboard operators require proof of dive insurance (DAN or equivalent) before boarding. Get it sorted before you travel.
4. Photocopies: Keep digital copies of your passport, visa, dive insurance, and certifications in your email or cloud storage. Phone batteries die. Bags get lost.

At Faneca Expeditions, we include visa guidance in every booking confirmation. If you're heading somewhere with a complicated entry process, we'll walk you through it step by step.